Tropical Storm Nicole - Planning Institute of Jamaica

Infrastructure
As in the case with Tropical Storm Gustav, the greatest impact of Tropical Depression No.
16/Tropical Storm Nicole was to the country’s physical infrastructure. Based on
preliminary assessments, damage was estimated at $18.09 billion. The associated losses,
though not yet fully determined are estimated to be in the region of $28.4 million
Damage to main roads and bridges was estimated at $14.0 billion of which $1.42 billion
represented the preliminary cost to reopen blocked roads. A total of 543 main roads were
impacted with St. Thomas accounting for $1.54 billion or 11.0 per cent of the total cost of
the damage. Another $1.90 billion was allocated to river training (Table 23). Cleaning and
reconstruction of retaining walls of the Sandy Gully bridge accounted for 32.7 per cent
(J$4.6 billion) of the total cost of damage to the road infrastructure.
Preliminary estimates of damage to the NWC system ranged between $240.0 million -$270.0
million. Assessment of damage to rural and remote infrastructure as well as commercial
losses, increased operating costs (including the trucking of water) and other costs associated
with the tropical storm has not yet been ascertained. More than 40.0 per cent of NWC’s
460 water supply systems were damaged and/or forced out of operation and a further 30.0
per cent were otherwise impacted. This resulted in water supply service to most customers
being impacted in one way or another. However, within 10 days, more than 95.0 per cent of
the Commission’s productive capacity and more than 85.0 per cent of its systems were
restored.
Preliminary estimates indicate that the electricity sub-industry sustained damage of some
$92.4 million. Associated losses were reported as being minimal as it was mainly the smaller
users that were out of electricity. The impact to large consumers, for example hotels, was
limited.
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